Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-01-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.

10 s)ObNh hENtNGhtAN
Tie Farmers National Congress in
session here the past week was large
ly attended, and many subjects of i'm
portance were intelligently discussed
and with beneficial results. The
principal topics were the interstate
commerce bill, the bill establishing a
department ofagriculture, the bill to
extend the benefits Of the Signal
Service to agriculture, and the bill to
establish agricultural experiment
stations in the several States. One
whole day was occupied III discuss
ing the interstate commerce bill, a
majority of the members favoring
federal interference, but the South
and Northwest differing widely on
the provisions of the bill-the former
dSocating more stringent conditions
than the latter. The farmers handled
the subject with skill and from a
practical, business standpoint, while
the Solons of the Capitol discussed il
in Its various legal aspects. and final
ly passed II by a vote of 43 to Is. An
other good influence of the prestenece
OF so many representative farmers at |
the seat of national legislation was
shown by the passage in the House
of Representative Hatch's bill TO raise
the Bureau of Agriculture to the i'm
portance of Cabinet office under the
title of the Department of Agricul-
ture and Labor. 1t is to be regretted |
that the Farmers Congress could moi |
remain in session long enough to Sc
cure the passage ofth bill in the SEN
ate at this session OF Congress.
The Senate is considerably stirred |
up just now over the change that may |
take place in its composition within |
the next few days. Al 10 time be-
fore has there been such a probabili-
ty as at present of so many Senators
being succeeded by men entirely
strange to the halls of Congress. Al |
ready Pennsylvania, Minnesota,
Michigan aud Indiana have practi-
cally sent new men, and il is regard
ed at the Capitol as more than prob
able that changes will follow in Mas
eachusetts, New York, New Jersey,
West Virginia aud Nebraska. The
defeat Of Van Wyck in Nebraska will
be looked upon as triumph of rail-
road monopolies, for no man has
more persistently fought that class of
monopolies in the Senate than Van
Wyck. Politically he is not much
liked by his fellow Senators, because
they never know where 10 place him
as Republican or Democrat. OF
late he has been rather independent,
aud such characters do not carry
much weight in the Senate-another
instance of which may be found in
Riddleberger, of Virginia. The ru-
klor that Senator Brown, of Georgia.
resigning on account of
bad health is not accepted as entitled
TO credit. The Senator has been
troubled with weakness of the ,
throat for some several years past.
and 1t has troubled him little more
than usual this winter, but nothing
serious is feared from 1t. The Sena.
tor is now here and looking well, and
shows as much capacity TO dispose of
work rs at any time he has been in
tue Senate, and that is considerable.
lie expects to make a strong argu-
meni against the bill granting suf-
Irage to women, and consideration of !
that bill was deferred until the SEN
ator should arrive so as to afford him
The opportunity.
All important measures before
Congress are now being called up /,
and disposed of with as much dis
patch as possible consistent with a
lair investigation into each measure. I,
The House has just passed the bill /,
jurisdiction upon the =,
Court of Claims in all claims against
he Government of not more than six :
years standing, and not including war y
claims. This bill will probably pass y
he Senate, and Congress will then be !.
of mass OF work that now T.
consumes valuable time with no ben y
,tcial results in great majority of :,
he cases TO either the claimant or the "
government but loss to all parties +
Another bill considered was one to 6.
extend for one year the right of ac- 81
Ion III cases arising under the cap n
uret and abandoned property act. "
There is hardly possibility of this q
I'LL passing, but if it should It will &c
pen up claims now barred by the RI
tatute oflimitations and amounting al
o nearly 100000, A great many Of n
hese claims are just, and are for prom nj
rty captured by the Government r.
urlng the late war and not used but III
old by the Government, and the pro- Al
eeds turned into the United States m
'reasury. The United States Su- II,
RENE Court has decided that the s,
honey so turned into the Treasury is II,
cid in trust by the Government for 81
he persons from the sale of whose 10
roperty it is the proceeds. W.
The Presidents reception to the IN
diplomatic Corps on Thursday night
'as crowded, Notwithstanding the
eavy rain that poured in torrents
'om early in the evening till nearly
forming. The brilliancy within was ex
striking contrast with the gloom in
ithont. Every niche was filed SEE
18th delicate and rare tropical plants. pc
nd the renowned Marine Band dis yo
'ursed sweet strains of music, while III
ongressmen, diplomats, Judges. ito
my and navy officers, and Depart. yo
entail officials paid their respects cal
the President and his charming yo
lfe, and Afterwards engaged in so. or
Al intercourse. The floral decorations bu
ere elaborai' and exquisite, and Ne
IRE brilliant reception was never to
messed within the historical walls Oh
The White House. III. IGaI